Most parts of the world are plagued with natural disasters. Find out where Minnesota ranks in states safest from natural disasters.

Natural disasters can be defined as all types of severe weather, which have the potential to pose a significant threat to human health and safety. This can happen both seasonally and without warning. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security made a list of natural disasters:

Building of a snow house igloo in a cold winter from snow bricks using a spade
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Winter Storms

Most Minnesotans are used to winter storms. To make it a natural disaster is when a significant amount of snow and/or ice over a short period of time. The storm would include blocking roads, disrupting communications systems, causing power outrages, and threatening life safety.

Closeup of high water flooding on a neighborhood street.
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Floods

So far, floods have inflicted more economic damage and loss of life and property than any other natural hazard. A flood is described as an overflow of water that submerges usually dry land.

A dangerous tornado in tornado alley
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Tornadoes

More than one thousand tornadoes hit the U.S. every year causing significant damage. A tornado can be defined as a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground.

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Hurricanes

This one can inflict significant damage to both coastal and inland regions. Hurricanes and also affect areas with high winds, heavy rainfall. and severe flooding.

Northern Philippines Struck By Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake
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Earthquakes

Every year, the U.S. has dozens of earthquakes that can cause power outages, fires, water-supply emergencies, and significant loss of life and property.

Firefighters spray water to wildfire
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Wildfires

Both natural and man-made fires can cause wildfires. They can be defined as uncontrolled fire that burns in the wildland vegetation. It also makes lands more susceptible to flooding and mudslides.

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The website World Atlas is known for covering maps, graphics, flags, photos, and original descriptions. They put together a list of 10 states safest from natural disasters. They based their results on states that are not very prone to natural disasters of any kind.

Here is a look at the list:

  1. Michigan
  2. Minnesota
  3. Illinois
  4. Vermont
  5. Ohio
  6. Colorado
  7. Maryland
  8. Maine
  9. New Hampshire
  10. Montana

Minnesota came in as the second safest state from natural disasters. Here's what the website had to say about the Land of 10,000 Lakes:

Based on data from the past 30 years about the frequency and the severity of natural hazards, Minnesota is relatively safe but there are some confirmed risks of natural disasters in Minnesota. For example, there was a tornado that hit the state in 2011. In addition, there have been some floods in the past. However, the severity of these disasters is low compared to most of the other places.

I'm surprised our "cheese-loving" neighbors next door (Wisconsin) didn't top the list. As the website states, Minnesota does get the occasional flooding, tornadoes, and snow storms, but nothing compared to other parts of the world.

For the Duluthians that remember the Halloween Blizzard of 1991, check this video out. You can also check out our gallery of the 2012 flood of Duluth, here.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

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